Singapore vs Timor-Leste (6:00 PM on July 27): Timor-Leste Pins All Hopes on Joao Pedro

Over a long period, Timor-Leste football has seldom had a player who can truly stand out in the regional arena. Hence, whenever the national team competes in a big event, everyone looks to Joao Pedro.

Not only is he the most experienced attacker, but Joao Pedro is also the all-time leading scorer for the Timor-Leste national team, with 8 goals in 27 appearances.

Joao Pedro's Boldness

Unlike most of his teammates who only play domestically, Pedro chose early on to go abroad to develop himself.

His career has spanned various footballing environments across the region, including Thailand, Macau (China), Indonesia, Cambodia, and now Malaysia. Pedro has played for Ubon United, Benfica de Macau, PSM Makassar, Angkor Tiger, and later joined Kuching City in the Malaysia Super League. Constantly competing in different levels of play has helped the 1998-born striker gain experience and refine his skills.

Standing at 1.72m, Joao Pedro is not a typical aerial striker. His strengths lie in speed, positioning, off-the-ball movement, and sharpness inside the box. Pedro can play as a center forward, a withdrawn striker, or drift to the right wing when needed, giving the coaching staff multiple attacking options.

His club performances have also raised his profile. During the 2023-24 season with Benfica de Macau, he scored 37 goals in 43 matches, an impressive feat that drew interest from many clubs in the region. After stints in Indonesia and Cambodia, Pedro moved to Kuching City, where he continues to get opportunities in the Malaysia Super League.

Joao Pedro's international career is also marked by memorable milestones. He made his debut for Timor-Leste at the 2018 AFF Cup and scored his first international goal against Philippines in that same tournament. A year later, he found the net against Malaysia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, despite Timor-Leste losing 1-7.

The biggest turning point came in September 2024, when Pedro scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Mongolia in the 2027 Asian Cup play-off. This was the first hat-trick by a Timor-Leste player in an official match. Less than a year later, a single goal against Maldives in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers brought his international tally to 8, making him officially the greatest scorer in Timor-Leste football history.

Timor-Leste Pins All Hopes on Joao Pedro

Joao Pedro's role becomes even more significant given that Timor-Leste remains among the weaker teams in the region. Since joining the AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup), the team has never advanced past the group stage. Therefore, every goal from Pedro is not only statistically meaningful but also boosts the entire team's confidence.

At the 2024 ASEAN Cup, Pedro continued to prove his worth by scoring against Malaysia and Cambodia, thereby equaling and then surpassing the scoring record of his predecessors in the national team. That consistent form earned him a spot in the 2025 ASEAN All-Stars squad, a recognition of the Timor-Leste striker's outstanding contributions at the regional level.

Beyond his technical ability, the 28-year-old striker also serves as a spiritual leader for the team. As one of the few Timor-Leste players who regularly play abroad, Pedro brings valuable experience to his younger teammates.

The gap between Singapore and Timor-Leste is still considered quite large, but football always holds surprises. To create an upset against a higher-rated opponent, Timor-Leste will need an outstanding performance from their number one striker.